Finish or border for the edges of fabrics



(No ModeL) J. M. MERROW.

FINISH 0R BORDER FOR THE-EDGBS 0F FABRICS. No. 480,335.

Patented Aug. 9, 18-92.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. MERROVV, OF MERROYV, CONNECTICUT.

FINISH OR BORDER FOR THE EDGES OF FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,335, dated August 9, 1892.

Serial No. 435,016. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn M. Mnnnow, of Merrow, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Finishes or- Borders for the Edges of Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to a new and improved form and construction of an elastic ornamental finish or border for the edges of fabrics and other materials, but more especially designed and intended for use upon the raw edges of knitted fabrics.

In the accompanying drawing the figure represents on an enlarged scale a plan View of the improved finish as applied to a fabric, the latter being represented in outline only to exhibit more clearly the position of thethreads entering into the composition of the finish.

The fabricA, upon which the finish or border is to be constructed, may be of any suitable material of one or more thicknesses and having a free edge 00.

The finish B is formed and extends on both faces of the fabric from a line or series of points situated within and some distance from the edge a to and around the latter and is composed of two threads C and D, which are arranged and disposed as follows, and for convenience of description the face of the fabric uppermost in the drawing will be designated the upper face and the opposite or lower side the under face. It will be observed in the first place that each of the two threads 0 D occupies one face of the fabric and that the two threads are connected, attached, or interlooped along two lines 0 cl, the former extending along and parallel with the edge a and the other d running lengthwise of the edge, but within the fabric at some distance from the edge, and, further, that the two lines of connections 0 cl are united at intervals and on opposite faces of the fabric by double thread cross-bars in substantially parallel relation one to another, while beyond the outer line 0 an enchained line 6 of stitches is formed, serving to complete and strengthen the finish.

The thread C is arranged to form two series of loops, one on the under and the other on the upper side of the fabric, to which end the thread is passed back and forth through the fabric at points x in proximity to the inner line of connections d. The loops 1 of the under series are each composed of a portion of the thread extending from one point 00 out to or beyond the edge a and back to the same point 00, while the loops 2 of the upper series are composed of portions of the thread extending from one point so to the next succeeding point no in the series. The loops 2 are shorter than the loops 1, and in no case are said loops 2 to extend to the edge a, as the relative position of the ends of the two series of loops serves to determine the two lines of connection 0 d. A doubled portion or bight 3 of the thread D is passed through eachloop 2 of the thread C and thence across the upper face of the fabric to the edge a thereof, where it is threaded through a loop 1 of the under series and afterward through the loop of the next preceding bight 3, thereby locking the latter and preventing its withdrawal through the loops 1 and 2. The thread D is thus alternately interlocked or engaged with thread 0 at two points-i. 6., at the ends of the two series of loops 1 and 2thus forming the two lines of connection 0 d and the enchained edge e, the latter composed of the interlooped ends of loops 3, located beyond the outer line of connections, while the series of cross-bars are formed on opposite faces of the fabric, those on the lower face being composed of the doubled portions of thread C, constituting loops 1, and extending from each point of insertion ac to the edge a, and those on the upper face, comprising the doubled portions of thread D, forming bights 8 and extending from the ends of loops 2 to the ends of loops 1 of the thread Cthat is to say, from the inner line of connection d to the outer line 0, or vice versa.

It will readily be seen upon inspecting the drawings and considering the relations which the two threads as there shown bear to each other and to the fabric that the finish thus formed is ornamental and attractive to the eye. At the same time it is highly elastic and affords ample protection to the edge of the fabric.

The points a; at which the thread 0 is successively passed back and forth through the fabric in forming the two series of loops may be located at any convenient distance from the edge a, and the several points so may be more or less distant from each other. The threads 0 D may vary in size, material, or color, and the relative tightness or lengths of the loops may be varied within limits.

As represented in the drawing, the thread 0 of the lower series of loops 1 extends in slightly diagonal lines from the points a: to the edge a, while the doubled portions of thread D, forming bights 3, extend at nearly right angles to said edge; but substantially the same finish is made when the upper threads are inclined or extended diagonally toward the edge and the position of theloops 1 is correspondingly shifted at the edge a when the thread D passes through said loops, or both the upper and lower threads D C may be disposed slightly at opposite angles from the points as of attachment to the fabric to the edge thereof without materially changing the appearance or usefulness of the finish and without departing from its fundamental principles.

It is obvious that my improved finish may be produced either by hand or by machinery properly organized for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. As a new article of manufacture, the hereinbefore-described improved border or finish, the same consisting of a base or fabric and two threads applied to opposite faces and united on two lines of connection, the I one beyond the edge of the fabric and the other within the edge of the fabric, one of said threads extending back and forth through the fabric at points removed from the edge to form two series of loops, the one series being located on the lower face of the fabric and extending from the points of insertion beyond the edge, while the other series of loops is located on the upper face of the fabric, the other thread extending in bights or loops through the upper series of loops to form the inner line of connection, and thence across the fabric to the edge, where they enter the lower series of loops to form the outer line of connections, the outer ends of said bights being interlooped one with another beyond said outer line of connections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, to form an elastic ornamental finish such as described, of the base or fabric A, the thread (3, extending back and forth through the fabric at points equidistant apart and lying in a plane parallel with the edge a of the fabric to produce two series of loops, one below and the other above the fabric, the loops of the lower series each extending from a point of insertion beyond the edge of the fabric, while the loops of the other series are shorter and extend from one point of insertion to the next, and the thread D, formed into a series of loops or bights 3, each of the latter engaging one of the shorter upper loops of thread 0, and extending thence to the edge of the fabric, where it passes through one of the lower loops of the thread 0 and is held by engagement with the loop of the next succeeding bight 3 of thread D.

. JOSEPH M. MERROW.

W'itnesses:

FRANK H. ALLEN, ALONZO M. LUTHER. 

